PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

PCMag UK

Report: Amazon Forming VR Video Team

"The future will not be limited to passive 2D experiences," Amazon says.

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Have experience creating VR experiences? Amazon may have a job for you.

New evidence suggests that Amazon is putting together a new virtual reality team. As was first spotted by UploadVR, the Web giant over the weekend posted a Glassdoor ad seeking "a talented Senior Software Development Manager" to lead a team that will be responsible for building a virtual reality experience within its Amazon Video platform.

"Entertainment is evolving rapidly," the ad says. "The future will not be limited to passive 2D experiences. The Virtual Reality team will explore and create the platform and interface for immersive storytelling."

Based on that description, UploadVR suggests Amazon is building "a platform for distribution of 360 VR content" possibly akin to YouTube's 360-degree video offering. It's unclear whether Amazon is planning to fund its own VR originals, or whether the company just wants to distribute content made by others.

Either way, if you have a background in computer science or a related field plus at least 15 years of relevant engineering experience, you may be qualified for the position. The job also requires at least seven years of technical experience as a software developer and five years as a manager. Head over to Glassdoor for more information about the post.

Meanwhile, with headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive hitting the market soon, VR is poised to be a multibillion-dollar market, according to GameStop CEO Paul Raines. "The market size is really hard to measure right now, but there are a lot of different measurements, all of them start with a b," Raines said last month, referencing a recent Goldman Sachs report that said the VR market could reach $80 billion by 2025.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read the latest from Angela Moscaritolo

Read full bio